Gavin & Stacey's Doris dies at 84

Wednesday 2 February 2011 14:31 BST

Actress Margaret John, 84, right, best known for her role as straight-talking pensioner Doris in Gavin & Stacey, died early today in hospital in Swansea, the city of her birth, following a short illness, her agent Gemma McAvoy said.

She said: "After appearing in many of the dramas that defined British television, including Doctor Who and Z-Cars, she found a whole new army of viewers with Gavin And Stacey and the hugely popular BBC Cymru Wales comedy High Hopes.

"Margaret was a cornerstone of the television and radio industry in Wales - she was a founder cast member of the BBC Radio Wales soap Station Road and appeared in many radio dramas made by BBC Cymru Wales, most recently in The Diaries Of Mrs Bebb, broadcast just last month.

"Her vitality, energy and enthusiasm endeared her to generations of people and I'd like to pay tribute to her for the immense pleasure she gave to her many fans in Wales and beyond."